An Italian Parliamentary Group for Tibet was recently formed in the new Italian Parliament. In April Italy elected a new parliament. The first meeting of the Italian Parliamentary Group for Tibet consisting of over 120 Members of Parliament was conveyed recently.

On 8 July 2008, Mr. Tseten Samdup Chhoekyapa, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Representative based in Geneva addressed the members of the newly formed Italian Parliamentary Group for Tibet. He briefed MPs on the tragic situation in Tibet and the outcome of the recent 7th Round Talks between His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Representatives and China.

Mr. Chhoekyapa thanked Italian Tibet Parliamentary Group members for their continued support for Tibet. He expressed his deep concern about the present situation in Tibet. He called on the members of the group to lobby the Italian Government to ensure that even after the Olympics in Beijing, the pressure on China to improve human rights in Tibet is maintained.

He said, despite the tragic situation in Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was committed to finding a meaningful solution to the Tibetan issue through non-violence. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is not seeking independent for Tibet but for a genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people to preserve Tibetan religion, culture, language and identity.

During the meeting, Mr. Chhoekyapa stressed the importance of setting up a formal structure for the Italian Parliamentary Group for Tibet. Finally, he thanks and asked the MPs to continue to support His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people.